In 2018, Kerri Balliet, a transformational coach at Shorewood-based The Red Baron Group, started She Reads, a women’s business book club. The club recently read “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts,” by Brene Brown, which explores courage in leadership, especially in a corporate setting.
Brown is a researcher who focuses on courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy. Her 2012 TED talk “The Power of Vulnerability” is one of the top five most viewed TED Talks in the world.
Balliet sums up Brene’s thesis in “Dare to Lead” as: “vulnerability is the foundation of where we should be coming from in leadership perspective.” The book has been especially meaningful to Balliet, who said exhibiting vulnerability at work can be challenging.
Balliet said it was important for the group to read a book about business leadership that was written by a female. “Dare to Lead,” which comes with access to a workbook of related exercises, helps women develop leadership skills, Balliet said.
Kerri Balliet
Transformational coach
The Red Baron Group